Antec Fusion Black 430 Media Center Case & A/V Cooler Review

Introduction:

That’s a sweet receiver! This popular compliment has been directed at me ever since I got the all-new Antec Fusion Black 430 Media Center case. Right here and now I’m going to dispel the rumor – this case is actually a home theater PC enclosure. These types of cases typically eliminate some hardware that you use in your home theater setup since the computer that goes inside the cases are capable of the tasks that one or more of those components in your home theater system can produce. We also have Antec’s A/V Cooler to go along with the case for better cooling of the media center components. These products are sold separately, but they go hand-in-hand, so let’s see just how much of a benefit it is to have the A/V Cooler along with the case. How optimal will the case be for a media center PC? Will it be able to efficiently cool the components, muffle the noise of the computer, and have very useful features? Let’s find out just how well the Antec Fusion Black 430 Media Center case, paired with the Antec A/V Cooler, does.

"Antec, Inc., is the leading global brand of high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognized as a pioneer in these industries and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of efficient, quiet, and reliable products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators."

Closer Look:

When UPS left the box on my doorstep, I bent down expecting a fairly light box but I was wrong – I knew from the weight that the case was made of steel. The box has a very simple yet professional look to it while displaying the front of the case. The back of the box has the specifications printed out in three different languages.

On the sides of the box you’ll find a statement from Antec alerting you what this case provides, and you’ll also find a picture of the actual case with its top off so that you can see what it looks like on the inside.

When you open up the box, you'll see that the case is securely held in place with Styrofoam and has a plastic bag over the case to protect it from scratches and debris. Included with the case is an instruction manual, a three year warranty, and a software CD for the LCD panel on the case.